Larry Shenk, Vice President of Alumni Relations, shares his notes, quotes and anecdotes from the world of baseball.

The Stopper

Cole has turned into the stopper, big time. Seventeen days ago, he held the Nationals to one run and it came on a steal of home when Cole tossed to first base.

Second time around against them, he did even better last night. 0 runs. 114 pitches were touched for four hits and three walks, the only base-runners for the losers.

So, he has the major’s best streak going, seven straight wins after a first-start loss back on April 9. Since his rookie season in 2006, Cole is 21-4 in May, best mark in the majors.
Elias Sports Bureau: Hamels is the fourth Phillies starting pitcher in the last 50 years to win seven or more consecutive decisions before the end of May. The others were Jim Lonborg in 1976 (8), Steve Carlton in 1981 (8) and Tommy Greene in 1993 (7).
Papelbon lost the shutout by allowing a solo homer in the ninth. That’s OK. Rather a dinger with a four-run lead than a one-run lead.

Delta charter was scheduled to arrive at 1:15 a.m., St. Louis time, on Thursday. Sleep fast boys, game time is 7:15 p.m. Thursday.

Down On The Farm
**Lehigh Valley was idle.

**Reading lost to Erie for the second straight night, 4-2, this time. CF Tyson Gillies is 7-14 in the series that ends with an 11:05 a.m. game today.

**Clearwater scored 3 in the top of the ninth for a 4-3 win at Ft. Myers. C Cameron Rupp had the game-winning RBI single. RHR Tyler Knigge, 2nd save, with 1 scoreless inning, stretching his scoreless streak to 16 innings. Clearwater has 20 singles and one home run in three games this week, losing two.

**Lakewood won, 3-2, over Delmarva on a walk-off single by 3B Harold Martinez.

**Player: INF-OF Carlos Alonso, Clearwater. Led organization with a .545 average for 6 games, 12 hits, 5 runs scored and 10 RBI. He had multi-hits in each of his last 5 games. Raised his average from .299 to .360. Alonso has started at second base, shortstop, third base and left field. The 24-year-old was selected in the 32nd round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Delaware and signed by Paul Murphy.

Phlashback
May 24, 1935: Phillies lose first night game in major league baseball history, 2-1, at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field. Game takes 1 hour, 35 minutes. Attendance for the historic game, 20,422.

May 24, 1999: For the first time in team history, the Phillies have the same-name battery, RHP Joel Bennett and C Gary Bennett. Phillies win, 5-4, over Montreal.

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